Kikuchi Disease: A Case Report.

Area of Science:

• Medical diagnosis
• Pathology
• Immunology

Background:

• Kikuchi disease, or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, is a rare, benign condition causing cervical lymphadenitis.
• It presents with painful neck lymph node swelling, fever, low white blood cell count, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
• Diagnosis relies on characteristic histopathologic findings from lymph node biopsy.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old Japanese man experienced prolonged fevers and cervical lymphadenopathy.
• He was initially misdiagnosed at multiple urgent care and emergency facilities.
• Kikuchi disease was confirmed via lymph node biopsy one month after symptom onset.

Findings:

• The patient received hydroxychloroquine and prednisone treatment.
• Symptomatic resolution was observed following treatment.

Implications:

• Cervical lymphadenopathy is a common emergency department presentation.
• Emergency physicians should consider Kikuchi disease in the differential diagnosis.
• Awareness can prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments for this rare condition.